Is the new Nikon Z mount mirrorless for real?

[CameraQuest]

Let's hope so!

the specs look wonderful,
but of course the devil is in the details and intelligent execution!

https://nikonrumors.com/2018/01/11/...z-mount-with-16mm-flange-focal-distance.aspx/

Its about damned time!

 

[farlymac]

But lots of companies have been known to patent things just to keep their competitors from making them. Still, one can dream.

PF

 

[BillBingham2]

Seems reasonable for Nikon.

On the positive side the dimensions are such that it should have no problem taking F lenses or S lenses....or M/LTM for that matter.

B2 (;->

 

[jsrockit]

Could be interesting...

 

[michaelwj]

Seems reasonable for Nikon.

On the positive side the dimensions are such that it should have no problem taking F lenses or S lenses....or M/LTM for that matter.

B2 (;->

It should be adaptable to (almost) every lens. The FBD is less, and the diameter more, than the E mount. But then Nikon doesn't seem like the kind of company to encourage users to use non-Nikon lenses...

 

[peterm1]

Not sure if this innovation is likely to happen. But rest assured there will be innovation.

But I can say this. Nikon has been around enough to understand that success lies in constant innovation to bring new product to the market. I once heard a senior executive in the pharmaceuticals industry say his job was easy in concept - he had to bring in enough money to fund research and development to bring forth new products that generate a new stream of money to fund more research and development to .......well, you get the picture. Same for camera equipment companies it seems to me - the only way those production lines keep running is if people buy. And comes a time when the only way people buy is if there is new kit to sell them.

Besides Nikon also knows that SLR technology is most likely a technological anachronism and eventually it will go the way of the dinosaurs. I am not convinced the replacement would be THIS new camera but no successful camera company puts all of its eggs in one basket and relies upon one stream of revenue from one market segment.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

I waited 3 years for this, and finally gave up and sold all my AF Nikon glass and went somewhere else. Am hoping it's not so enticing that I will feel the urge to swing back around.
OTOH, would be great if it was as capable as the D850 in a Nikon SP clone body; the 16mm flange focal distance is pretty short, maybe that will allow something nice, or maybe I don't really know what I'm talking about re: mechano-optical design. Again.

 

[jsrockit]

would be great if it was as capable as the D850 in a Nikon SP clone body;

The never-ending dream of many RFF users! 😀 With the price of the D850 too! I'm ready.

 

[Huss]

Once you get to Z for the mounts, development ends.

 

[Darthfeeble]

Did anyone else follow the links? I saw one article that shows it as having a ½ or 2.5 sensor. That's point and shoot stuff. Would explain the short flange distance.

 

[michaelwj]

Did anyone else follow the links? I saw one article that shows it as having a ½ or 2.5 sensor. That's point and shoot stuff. Would explain the short flange distance.

I think that's a separate patent. No need to have a mount diameter of 49mm if it's not a FF sensor.

 

[BillBingham2]

The links on the page were for the Nikon 1. A fine family camera, just like the early OneTouch.

B2 (;->

 

[Darthfeeble]

I'll learn to read one of these days.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Nikon? yawn...

 

[Brooklynguy]

The new Z mount is not the issue, it is Nikon's lack of lenses that concerns me. Millions of cheap 18-xx kit lenses, but Nikon took 20+ years to produce 24mm and 35mm f/1.4 lenses with autofocus (despite those being PJ staples and Canon being on its 2nd version); no full DX wide primes 15+ years into the DSLR era; no full CX/Nikon 1 lens range; not even a hint of a lens roadmap.

Even if Nikon were to announce a Z mirrorless tomorrow, who knows if and when fast, wide-normal primes (24, 35, 50, f/2 or faster) will be available. For me, the lack of a 35/2 equivalent has made Nikon DX and CX no-gos. Knowing Nikon's history, I'll be waiting quite a while. But I'll have my choice of a dozen 18-xxx zoom variants.

 

[gavinlg]

The new Z mount is not the issue, it is Nikon's lack of lenses that concerns me. Millions of cheap 18-xx kit lenses, but Nikon took 20+ years to produce 24mm and 35mm f/1.4 lenses with autofocus (despite those being PJ staples and Canon being on its 2nd version); no full DX wide primes 15+ years into the DSLR era; no full CX/Nikon 1 lens range; not even a hint of a lens roadmap.

Even if Nikon were to announce a Z mirrorless tomorrow, who knows if and when fast, wide-normal primes (24, 35, 50, f/2 or faster) will be available. For me, the lack of a 35/2 equivalent has made Nikon DX and CX no-gos. Knowing Nikon's history, I'll be waiting quite a while. But I'll have my choice of a dozen 18-xxx zoom variants.

Agreed. Nikons mirrorless is dead in the water unless it's aimed at professionals/prosumers from the get go and release it with a trio of fast PJ primes like Fujifilm did.

Somehow I just can't see Nikon doing that...

 

[willie_901]

I am interested in finding out how Nikon reverses it's decade-old strategy to avoid any new product opportunities that could possibly erode it's DSLR market share.

It will be interesting to see if Nikon assumes mirrorless customers will not be interested in quality prime lenses. Their slow development of APS-C primes indicates they think only 24 X 36 mm DSLR users are interested in primes. When you look at FUJIFILM and the m4/3 market, it's clear sensor area does not influence consumer preference for quality prime lenses. Think how much revenue Nikon purpopsefully lost because they decided NIKON APS-C owners did not deserve quality prime lenses.

Finally, I'm curious to see if Nikon finally decides to support manual focusing beyond a single blinking led light.

I once owned 5 different Nikon DLSR bodies and purchased five new AF Nikkor lenses. No matter what they the Z turns out to be, I will never buy another Nikon product.

 

[Ronald M]

Been rumored for a year.

Personally see NO ADVANTAGE to mirrorless. Body may be thinner, then lenses longer.

 

[BillBingham2]

It will be interesting to see if Nikon wakes up to deal with the disruptive technology or goes into hibernation.

Ditching the DL line was probably a good idea as there hasn't been much traction in that space in a couple of years. Moving along with Canon down the DSLR road, faster AF, more and more MPs, more sensitive sensors, more and more zooms will only work for so long. The competition is already good enough for many folks to switch.

I think the bottom either has or is about to fall out of the Mom&Dad market. If Fuji can break into BestBuy and alike with the X series cameras and lenses they can start eating Nikon's and Canon's lunches. A bit more product placement, advertising to folks other than us and they could eat their breakfast too.

I'm hoping that Nikon will come out with some great primes when the announce this new camera, my gut tells me they wont. There is the place for good zooms, but I fear that they will use post capture processing (in camera) to adjust for lackings in lens design (e.g. major distortion).

As they have probably laid off way too many lens engineers perhaps they should look to CV to do their prime glass (two speeds and price points for the major FLs please and thank you) and Nikon supplies the AF and controls.

Ah to dream on a bright clear cold day.....

B2 (;->

 

[DougFord]

Can't see Nikon half-assing this project. I would expect the camera to perform/operate at the same level of technical competence in the FF mirrorless market as their D850 performs in the dSLR market. It would be nice to have a ready made assortment of lenses available at launch time but that's just not realistic. Adapters and third party optics, along with a couple/few native z-mount lenses from Nikon in the short term.
Best of luck to Nikon!